Any citizen of the Republic of China who passes the national examination for nursing personnel and obtains the nursing personnel certificate in accordance with this Act shall be allowed to serve as nursing personnel.
The examination of the preceding Paragraph can be replaced by a qualification examination. Regulations governing the qualification examination shall be determined by the Examination Yuan jointly with the Executive Yuan.

The term nursing personnel mentioned in this Act refers to professional registered nurses and registered nurses.

Any citizen of the Republic of China who passes the national examination for nursing personnel may obtain the nursing personnel certificate.

To obtain the nursing personnel certificate, the person shall submit an application form and documents attesting his/her qualifications to the central competent authority for approval and issuance.

The term “competent authority” used in this Act refers to the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the central government level, the municipal government at the municipality level, and the county (city) government at the county (city) level.

Any person who falls under any of the following circumstances shall not serve as nursing personnel. If the person has served as nursing personnel, his/her nursing personnel certificate shall be rescinded or revoked.
1. He/she is found to have committed an offence under the Narcotics Elimination Act or Narcotics Control Act.
2. Upon judgment, he/she is found to have committed an offence under the Drug Control Act.
3. His/her nursing personnel certificate has been revoked under this Act.

Any person who does not obtain a professional registered nurse or registered nurse certificate shall not use the title of professional registered nurse or registered nurse.
Any person who does not obtain a nurse practitioner certificate shall not use the title of nurse practitioner.

A professional registered nurse may apply for a nurse practitioner certificate after he/she completes the nurse practitioner training and passes the review for nurse practitioners by the central competent authority.
The central competent authority may commission nurse practitioner-related associations to handle the preliminary review of the nurse practitioners of the preceding Paragraph. Any person who has obtained a professional registered nurse certificate and completed related nurse practitioner training may take part in the review for nurse practitioners.
Regulations governing specialties and the review of nurse practitioners shall be determined by the central competent authority.

Nursing personnel shall apply to register for practice to the municipal or county (city) competent authority located in the area where they will practice. They may practice only when a practice license has been obtained.
Nursing personnel in practice shall take continuing education for a certain number of hours every six (6) years before they may renew their practice licenses. However, any nursing personnel who, due to special circumstances, are unable to apply for renewal prior to the expiration of their practice licenses may submit a written statement of the circumstances and reasons and supporting documents to the authority that issued their practice licenses to apply for postponement of renewal. Those who obtain approval may reapply for renewal within six months from the date of expiration.
Regulations regarding qualifications, conditions, and documentation to be enclosed to pracrtice license application, issue, change, reissue and renewal of practice license as mentioned in the first item, and contents, credits, implementation, documentary proof of completed continued education as mentioned in the previous item and other items to be adhered to shall be formulated by the competent central authority.

Practice licenses shall not be issued under any of the following conditions. Licenses that have already been issued shall be cancelled or revoked:
1. The applicant’s nursing personnel certificate has been cancelled or revoked.
2. The applicant’s nursing personnel practice license has been revoked for a period not exceeding one (1) year.
3. The applicant is deemed unable to practice due to an objective fact which is recognized by a team of relevant medical specialists, nursing personnel, scholars, and experts commissioned by the municipal or county (city) competent authority.
When the condition prescribed in Subparagraph 3 of the preceding Paragraph disappears, these persons may still apply for practice licenses in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

To practice, nursing personnel shall join the local nursing personnel associations as members.
Nursing personnel associations cannot reject applicants who are eligible for membership.

Nursing personnel, in the case of termination or suspension of practice, shall report to the original competent authority which issued their practice licenses for inspection within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of the facts.
The suspension of practice mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall be for one (1) year; if it exceeds one (1) year, the nursing personnel shall handle the termination of practice.
Provisions regarding practice shall apply to nursing personnel who change their place of practice or resume practice.
Upon the death of nursing personnel, the original competent authority which issued the practice licenses to such nursing personnel shall annul the practice licenses.

Nursing personnel shall practice nursing in medical care institutions or nursing institutions approved for registration by the local competent authorities or other institutions recognised by the central competent authority. This rule does not apply to practice at times of emergency, inter-institutional support or cases with prior approval.

Nursing personnel are limited to registration for practice in one location.

To reduce wastes of medical care resources, to cope with the demands for continuous medical care and tobring into play the functions of nursing personnel, nursing institutions shall be established.

(Deleted.)

The establishment or expansion of nursing institutions shall be approved by the competent authority in advance; the qualifications of applicants, review procedures and criteria, revocation, annulment and other regulations to be complied with shall be set by the central competent authority.
The classification and establishment standards of nursing institutions shall be determined by the central competent authority.

Application shall be made to the local municipal or county (city) competent authority for approval and registration of the opening of a nursing institution by the following procedures and the issuance of an opening permit.
1. Public nursing institutions: the representative of the institution shall be the applicant.
2. Corporate institutions: the juridical person shall be the applicant.
3. Private nursing institutions: For an institution established by an individual person, a senior nurse employed by the institution shall be the applicant. Other juridical persons that establish ancillary institutions shall be the applicants.

The use or change of the title of a nursing institution shall be approved by the competent authority.
A non-nursing institution shall not use the title of nursing institution or similar titles.

The content of a nursing institution’s advertisements is limited to the following items:
1. Title, reference number of opening permit, address and telephone number of the nursing institution and directions to the institution;
2. Name, sex, academic background, working experience, nursing personnel certificate and reference number of practice permit of the nurse in charge;
3. Business items and hours;
4. Starting, terminating, suspending or resuming business, relocation of business and the date (including year, month and day);
5. Other items whose publication and dissemination are approved under the announcement of the central competent authority.
A non-nursing institution shall not produce advertisements on nursing.

A nursing institution shall not use the following titles:
1. A title which has been registered and used by another person in the same municipal or county (city) area;
2. A title or similar titles which are used by other nursing institutions in the same municipal or county (city) area; these institutions’ opening permits have been revoked for less than one (1) year or the institutions’ businesses have been suspended;
3. Titles which easily mislead people into believing that the nursing institutions to which the titles affixed are related to government organizations or charitable organization, or titles which harm public order or good social customs.

The nursing institution shall have one (1) qualified senior nurse. He/she shall be in charge of supervising nursing practice in the institution. The qualifications and requirements for the senior nurse shall be determined by the central competent authority.
In the case of a private nursing institution established by the senior nurse of the preceding Paragraph, the person who applied for approval shall be the person in charge of the institution.

In the event that circumstances arise which make it impossible for the person who is in charge of the nursing institution to carry out the practice in the institution, he/she shall appoint a qualified person, who is fit to be in charge of the practices, to represent him/her. A person who acts as an agent for a period exceeding one (1) month shall report to the original competent authority which issued the opening permit for reference.
The maximum acting period of the preceding Paragraph shall not exceed one (1) year.

A nursing institution shall conclude referral agreements with neighbouring hospitals.
The hospitals of the preceding Paragraph are limited to those which pass the accreditation by the competent authority in accordance with the law.
When an agreement mentioned in Paragraph 1 is terminated, dissolved or modified, the nursing institution shall conclude a new agreement with the party with whom it concluded the original referral agreement; and within fifteen (15) days of the date of the termination, dissolution or modification of the agreement, the institution shall submit the new agreement to the original authority which issued the opening permit for record.

The standards for fees collected by a nursing institution shall be reviewed and prescribed by the municipal or county (city) competent authority. However, the standards for fees collected by a public nursing institution shall be reviewed and prescribed by the competent authority which administers such an institution.
A nursing institution shall not overcharge and violate the fee standards.

When the nursing institution is suspended or terminated, or its registered items are changed, the applicant shall report within thirty (30) days after the fact occurs to the original authority which issued the opening permit for record.
Provisions regarding opening of a nursing institution shall apply to relocation of a nursing institution or a nursing institution which resumes practice.

A nursing institution shall submit reports in accordance with the laws and regulations or the notification of the competent authority, and shall accept the competent authority’s inspections of its staff scheduling, facilities, fees, operation, sanitation, safety and records and the authority’s collection of information.

The central competent authority shall carry out the accreditation of nursing institutions. The competent authorities at municipality and county (city) levels shall supervise and assess the services provided by the nursing institutions within their jurisdiction on a regular basis.
Nursing institutions must not avoid, hinder, or reject the accreditation, supervision, and assessment set forth in the preceding paragraph.
The competent authorities may commission related institutions or organizations to carry out the accreditation, supervision, and assessment set forth in Paragraph 1 when necessary.

When the central competent authority carries out the accreditation of nursing institutions, it shall announce the results, valid period, and status of the accreditation of each institution.
In the event that during the valid period of the accreditation, a nursing institution violates this Act or orders issued in accordance with this Act and fails to make improvements as requested by the competent authority within a specified period of time or the violation is severe, the central competent authority may downgrade its accreditation status or revoke its accredited qualifications.
The criteria for accreditation of nursing institutions, including the participants, items, ratings, and methods, as well as the regulations governing the rescission and revocation of accreditation results and other matters to be complied with, shall be determined by the central competent authority.

Functions of nursing personnel are as follows:
1. Nursing assessment of health problems,
2. Nursing measures for prevention and health care,
3. Nursing instructions and counselling,
4. Medical assistance.
Medical assistance in Subparagraph 4 of the preceding Paragraph shall be carried out under the instruction of a physician.
Nurse practitioners and professional registered nurses who are receiving the nurse practitioner training pursuant to Article 7-1 may carry out medical activities under the supervision of a physician in addition to performing the functions set forth in Paragraph 1.
The regulations on carrying out medical activities under the supervision of a physician, as stipulated in the preceding Paragraph, shall be established by the central competent authority.

Nursing personnel shall produce records during their practices.
The records set forth in the preceding Paragraph shall be handled by the institution where the nursing personnel work pursuant to Article 70 of the Medical Care Act.

When nursing personnel, at the time of practicing nursing, see a patient in an emergency condition, they shall immediately contact a physician and provide emergency first aid in advance.

When nursing personnel are inquired by related authorities, they shall not make false statements or reports.

Unless otherwise provided for above, permitted by law or agreed by the person concerned or his/her legal representative in writing, nursing personnel or nursing institutions and their staff shall not disclose the confidential information of others acquired or held by them in the course of practice.

A nursing institution shall be fined more than NT$20,000 and less than NT$100,000 under any of the following circumstances; in case of gross violation, its opening permit shall be revoked:
1. Sheltering non-qualified nursing personnel to practice nursing without authorisation,
2. Engaging in improper business practices, corrupting public morality or endangering human health,
3. Overcharging is found to have occurred after investigation and the overcharged portions are not returned in due time,
4. An institution whose business has been suspended still continues to operate.

In the event that nursing personnel whose practice of nursing has been suspended still practice, their practice licenses shall be revoked. In the case that any person whose practice license has been revoked still practices nursing, the person’s nursing personnel certificate shall be revoked.

In the event that nursing personnel lease their licenses to non-qualified persons for use, their nursing personnel certificates shall be revoked; in the case that they lease their licenses to other people rather than the aforesaid persons for use, they shall be fined more than NT$20,000 and less than NT$100,000, and in addition thereto, subject to a suspension of practice for more than one (1) month and less than one (1) year or a revocation of their practice licenses.
In the event that one of the circumstances of the preceding Paragraph constitutes a criminal offense, they shall be transferred to the prosecutor’s authority which administers such affairs for the authority’s handling in accordance with the law.

If a nursing institution whose opening permit has been revoked still continues to practice nursing, the nursing personnel certificate of the nurse in charge of the aforesaid institution shall be suspended by the central competent authority for two (2) years.

Violators of the establishment standards provided for in Paragraph 2 of Article 16 shall be ordered to make improvements within a specified period of time. Those that fail to make improvements within the deadline shall be subject to a fine of between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000 and be requested to make improvements within another specified period of time. Those that still fail to do so within the new deadline may be suspended from practice for no less than one month and no more than one year. In cases where no improvements are made when the suspension period ends, the establishment permit may be revoked.

Nursing institutions that undergo accreditation pursuant to Paragraph 1 of Article 23-1 but fail to be accredited shall be ordered to make improvements within a specified period of time, with the exception of violations of the establishment standards provided for in Paragraph 2 of Article 16, which shall be punished pursuant to the previous article. In the event that no improvements are made within the deadline, the nursing institutions that admit patients shall be subject to a fine of between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000, and other nursing institutions shall be subject to a fine of between NT$6,000 and NT$30,000. Consecutive punishments may be imposed. In the case of severe violations, the nursing institutions may be suspended from practice for no less than one month and no more than one year. In cases where no improvements are made when the suspension period ends, the establishment permit may be revoked.

Any institution which violates Paragraph 1 of Article 16, Article 17, Paragraph 1 of Article 18, Paragraph 1 of Article 18-1, Paragraph 3 of Article 20, Article 22 or Article 23, shall be imposed with a fine of more than NT$15,000 and less than NT$150,000, and shall be ordered to correct the violation(s) within a prescribed time limit. Any institution which has not corrected the violation(s) within the time limit or commits a gross violation shall be subject to a suspension of business for more than one (1) month and less than one (1) year or a revocation of its opening permit.

Those that violate Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 8, Paragraph 1 of Article 10, Article 12, Paragraph 1 of Article 19-1, Paragraph 2 of Article 23-1 or Articles 25 to 28 shall be subject to a fine of between NT$6,000 and NT$30,000 and be ordered to make improvements within a specified period of time. Those that fail to make improvements within the deadline shall be suspended from practice for no less than one month and no more than one year.
In the event that a nursing personnel association violates Paragraph 2 of Article 10, the competent authority shall impose a fine of between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000.

A nurse in charge of the nursing institution whose opening permit has been revoked shall not be allowed to apply for the establishment of a nursing institution within one year of the date of the revocation.

Nursing personnel who violate the law or commit improper acts in practice shall be subject to a suspension of practice for more than one (1) month and less than one (1) year. In case of gross violation, their practice licenses shall be revoked, and in the event that they are involved in criminal offenses, they shall be transferred to the prosecutor’s authority which administers such affairs for the authority’s handling in accordance with the law.

Any institution violating Paragraph 2 of Article 18 or Paragraph 2 of Article 21 shall be imposed with a fine of more than NT$15,000 and less than NT$150,000. Within a prescribed time limit, institutions which violate Paragraph 2 of Article 21 shall return the overcharged fees to the patients who had paid for the services provided.

If a non-qualified person practices nursing, he/she shall be sentenced to imprisonment of not more than three years, and may also be fined more than NT$30,000 and less than NT$150,000. This Article shall not apply to students from or graduates of nursing vocational high schools or above, who are employed as interns and practice nursing under the guidance of a licensed nurse.
The employer of the non-qualified person mentioned in the above paragraph shall be fined more than NT$15,000 and less than NT$150,000.

Any institution which violates Paragraph 2 of Article 18-1 shall be imposed with a fine of more than NT$10,000 and less than NT$60,000, and it shall be ordered to correct the violation(s) within a prescribed time limit. Institutions which have not corrected the violation(s) within the time limit shall be subject to successive penalty imposed on the basis of the number of times that the institution violates Paragraph 2 of Article 18-1. The same penalties shall apply to any person who violates Article 7.

Any person who violates Paragraph 1 of Article 11 shall be imposed with a fine of more than NT$3,000 and less than NT$30,000.

Nursing personnel who are imposed with a penalty of having their practice licenses revoked shall hand in their licenses within three (3) days after the occurrence of the facts for cancellation. Nursing personnel who are imposed with a penalty of having their practice licenses suspended shall submit their practice licenses to the competent authority for the authority to record the reasons and the period of suspension at the back of the licenses. The licenses shall be returned to them for safekeeping and only after the expiration of the period of suspension can the nursing personnel resume their practice.

The administrative fines, suspension from practice, rescinding and revoking of practice licenses or opening permits prescribed in this Act shall be executed by the municipal or county (city) competent health authorities, unless this Act stipulates otherwise. In addition, the rescinding, revoking or suspension of a nursing personnel certificate shall be executed by the central competent authority.

(Deleted.)

Municipal or county (city) nursing personnel associations are established. A national nursing personnel association may be established.

The district of a nursing personnel association shall correspond to the existing administrative district. Only one (1) association of the same level may be established in the same district. However, this rule does not apply to those established prior to the adjustments of the administrative districts.

The establishment of a municipal or county (city) nursing personnel association shall be initiated by no less than nine (9) practicing nursing personnel who practice in the jurisdiction of the association. If a district has fewer than nine (9) persons, they shall either join the neighbouring association or establish an association with others jointly.

(Deleted.)

The establishment of a national nursing personnel association can be initiated after more than one-third (1/3) of the municipal or county (city) nursing personnel associations complete their establishment.
The municipal or county (city) nursing personnel associations set forth in Article 45 of the Act shall join the aforesaid national nursing personnel association after its establishment.

Nursing personnel associations at each level shall be administered by the competent authorities of civil associations; however, their intended business shall be supervised and monitored by the competent authority.

Nursing personnel associations at each level shall appoint directors and supervisors elected by members (representatives of members) in general (representatives of members) meetings and boards of directors and supervisors shall be established. The number of the appointed directors and supervisors shall be as follows:
1. The number of the directors of a municipal or county (city) nursing personnel association shall not exceed twenty-seven (27).
2. The number of the directors of a national nursing personnel association shall not exceed thirty-five (35).
3. The number of the directors of a nursing personnel association shall not exceed one-half (1/2) of the number of the entire members (representatives of members) of the association. This Paragraph applies to nursing personnel associations at each level.
4. The number of the supervisors of a nursing personnel association shall not exceed one-third (1/3) of the number of the association’s directors. This Paragraph applies to nursing personnel associations at each level.
The number of the alternative directors or supervisors of the association shall not exceed one-third (1/3) of the total number of directors or supervisors of the same association.
When the number of the directors or supervisors in a nursing personnel association exceeds three (3) persons, standing directors and standing supervisors shall be elected among them. The president of the association shall be elected by the directors from the standing directors, or from the directors when there are no standing directors. In the case that there are more than three (3) standing supervisors, one (1) convener of the supervisory board shall be elected among them.

The term of office of a director and a supervisor shall be three (3) years. No more than one-half (1/2) of the directors or supervisors shall be re-elected and the president shall be re-elected only once.

The candidates for the election of directors and supervisors to a higher-level nursing personnel association are not limited to the representatives of members designated by the lower-level nursing personnel associations.
The representatives of members who are designated by the nursing personnel associations to participate in a higher-level nursing personnel association are not limited to directors and supervisors of the lower-level nursing personnel associations.

A nursing personnel association shall hold a general (representatives of members) meeting once each year; it shall hold special meetings when necessary. When the number of the members of a nursing personnel association exceeds three hundred (300), the association shall delimit regions on the basis of the distribution of the members and in accordance with the provisions of the Chapter of the association and the number of the representatives of members shall be elected based on the ratio of the members. The association shall hold general meetings and exercise the powers of general meetings.

A nursing personnel association shall formulate a Chapter of the association, prepare a list of members and the resumes of its staff and submit them to the competent authorities of civil associations for registration and to the competent authorities at central level and local level respectively for record.

The following items shall be included in the Chapters of the association of nursing personnel associations at each level:
1. Title, region and location of the association;
2. Missions, organisation, tasks or enterprises;
3. Membership participation and withdrawal;
4. Membership fees and payment periods;
5. Formulation and office term of the representatives of members;
6. Quotas, designated powers, office terms, election and discharge of directors and supervisors;
7. Rules governing general (representatives of members) meetings and meetings of board of directors and of board of supervisors;
8. Rules to be abided by members;
9. Budgets and accounting;
10. Amendment of the Chapter of Association; and
11. Other necessary matters of a nursing personnel association to be manifested or handled according to the laws and orders.

For violations of the laws and orders or Chapter of Association committed by a nursing personnel association, the competent authorities of civil associations may render the following dispositions:
1. Demerit of warning;
2. Revocation of the resolution;
3. Discharge of the directors and supervisors; or
4. Rectification under a deadline.
The dispositions of Subparagraph 1 and Subparagraph 2 in the preceding Paragraph may also be rendered by the competent health authority.

Nursing personnel associations at municipal or county (city) level are obliged to abide by the Chapter of Association and resolutions of a national nursing personnel association.

A member of a nursing personnel association who is in violation of the laws and orders or his/her nursing personnel association’s Chapter shall be disposed by the association according to the association’s Chapter and resolutions rendered by the association’s board of directors, board of supervisors or general (representatives of members) meetings.

In issuing certificates or licenses in accordance with this Act, the central, municipal or county (city) competent authorities may collect fees for certificates or licenses; the amount of fees shall be decided by the central competent authority.

Any national nursing personnel association which was registered before the implementation of the provisions of this Act amended on 9 January 2007, shall finish reconstructing itself within four (4) years of the date of the implementation of this Act. Nursing personnel associations which were registered before the implementation of the said Act shall handle their dissolutions together.

Foreign citizens may apply for the nursing personnel qualification examination in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Republic of China.
Foreign citizens who pass the nursing personnel qualification examination prescribed in the preceding Paragraph, acquire the nursing personnel certificate and practice the functions of nursing personnel in the Republic of China shall have the permission of the central competent authority to practice nursing and shall be subject to the domestic laws and orders related to nursing and medical care and the Chapter of Association of the nursing personnel associations. Regulations governing management and permission to practice nursing shall be determined by the central competent authority.
For violations of the provisions of the preceding Paragraph, in addition to punishment in accordance with the law, the central competent authority may also annul the permission to practice nursing.

Enforcement rules of this Act shall be determined by the central competent authority.

This Act shall be implemented on the date of promulgation.